Jones-Drew suffers bruised leg, could be limited in Jaguars' season opener has 0 comments

Sep 4th 2009, 09:55 | FFN-Score: 14 points

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew might not be 100 percent when the season begins after bruising his lower right leg during Thursday night's 24-17 preseason-ending victory over the Washington Redskins.

X-rays on the leg were negative, but Jones-Drew is scheduled to have an MRI exam Friday. Although Jones-Drew has been fairly durable in three seasons, he could be slowed heading into the Sept. 13 season opener at Indianapolis.

Jones-Drew hurt his leg on the opening series when Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot tackled him following a short reception. Jones-Drew exchanged words with Smoot and safety LaRon Landry before leaving the field, then slammed his helmet to the ground and headed to the locker room.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said the low hit fired up Jones-Drew.

"He had a 'UFC shot' to the shin or lower leg, and it's bruised," Del Rio said. "Maurice was a little frustrated by the hit and he wanted to get his hands on the guy, I can tell you that."

Jaguars quarterback David Garrard took some of the blame for leading Jones-Drew into the flat with the pass.

"I don't know what's really wrong with him. I don't know if anything's really wrong with him," Garrard said. "He'll be fine. He'll be ready to roll. I could have helped him out a little bit more by putting the ball where it stops him and not kind of lead him into that defender out there. But it's football. Those types of things are going to happen."

Smoot and Landry didn't play after the opening series and weren't around when the Redskins' locker room opened after the game.

Washington teammate Reed Doughty, a backup safety, said low hits are part of the game -- especially against a 210-pound running back like Jones-Drew.

"If you don't cut, it's a scrimmage," Doughty said. "That's what DBs do. When we blitz, they don't cut? I don't think Smoot did anything on purpose or was trying to hurt him."

Although the injury to Jones-Drew didn't appear serious, the Jaguars can't afford to lose their top playmaker. Convinced Jones-Drew could be the cornerstone of the offense, the team released veteran running back Fred Taylor and gave former UCLA standout a five-year,
$31 million contract in April.

Jones-Drew has nearly 4,000 yards rushing and receiving in his career, and he has scored 40 touchdowns in three seasons. Only San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson has more touchdowns (61) since 2006.

"He's a warrior, he's a champion, he's one of the leaders of our team, and you're going to get the same Maurice Jones-Drew every day," Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker said.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press